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“Flapjacks, but no one calls them that here. Does warm syrup, whipped butter, a side of bacon, and hot coffee tempt you?”
“Sounds yummy.” Then she looked at the clock. “Damn it. I’m going to be late.”
His gut clenched. The ruse would be up soon, and then what would she think of him? She might get angry at first, but after having shared such an intimate moment together, surely she wouldn’t stay mad. “Let me go get you a breakfast burrito. You can eat it on the way to the mine.”
She tilted her head. “How did you know that I was going to the mine? I never said anything about that last night.”
He was walking a fine line. “Everyone knows, Jessie. This is a small town.”
Her mouth curled up into the prettiest smile, and she shrugged. “So much for surprising the mine's top brass.”
“Once they get a look at you, they’ll be really surprised.” Especially Austin. “Get ready. I'll be back in a flash. I'll drive you.”
“Thanks, but I have a rental car. I'll be fine.”
“You sure like to argue, don't you?”
“Do you think because you’re my first you get to be bossy with me?” She giggled.
“Yep. Especially in between the sheets, sweetheart.” He hopped out of bed and started putting on his clothes. “Enjoy your shower. I'll take you via a secret shortcut that’ll save you ten minutes, maybe more.”
She nodded, sitting up on the bed. Twisting around, her feet hit the floor. She stood up, giving his eyes a feast of her gorgeous naked behind. “I really like a spicy breakfast.”
“Me, too. Two sausage, egg, and cheese burritos with hot jalapeno peppers.”
“That sounds divine.” She sauntered into the bathroom, her perfect ass bouncing with each step. “Don’t be long, Jackson.”
“I won’t.” Being away from Jessie one second longer than necessary wasn’t something he would ever tolerate. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.
* * * *
Jackson crossed Main Street and beelined to Norma’s Diner. He would bet Jessica would love their breakfast burritos. He pushed the glass door open, and the little bell above jingled.
Norma’s décor hadn’t changed in five decades. Two rows of booths ran the length of the place with a narrow path between them that Norma herself, her daughters, and now even her granddaughters could navigate with more plates than humanly possible. The pass-through to the kitchen was opposite the front of the diner where the manual cash register sat on the counter. Jackson loved the delicious smells that always filled the place.
The diner was unusually empty, except for one booth with three of his favorite people. Aunt Maude sat between her husbands, Greg and Grant Strong. Jackson had heard the story a dozen times how she’d followed her little sister, Jackson’s mom, to Wilde to try to beat some sense into her about how nuts it would be to marry his dads. She’d always finish the tale with a big grin and a final thought. “Didn’t work out quite the way I’d planned. Now, I’m stuck with these two washed-up cowboys.”
“Get over here, boy,” Uncle Greg ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
Jackson stepped up to the table but didn’t sit down. The three were sipping on coffee. Uncle Grant sat by Aunt Maude with his arm around her. Her other husband held her hand from across the table.
“We were about to order.” Uncle Greg shifted over in the booth and patted the seat. “Why don’t you join us?”
Jackson’s aunt tilted her head toward him. “I don’t think our nephew has time to eat with us, hun. I believe someone is waiting for a delivery of food. That right?”
“Are you some kind of mind reader now, Aunt Maude? Carlotta is going to be pissed that you’re moving in on her business.”
“Just one of my many gifts. Even so, I’ll leave the fortune telling to Carlotta.”
Grant leaned into her and kissed her cheek. “And so many gifts, too.”
“Stop it.” She giggled like a schoolgirl. “Jackson, I know how you are. That sweet girl is not from Wilde. She doesn’t know what a rascal you are. You’ve left enough broken hearts in this town.”
Uncle Greg grinned. “Not just Wilde. Hell, the whole county.”
“You forgot that girl from Vegas,” Uncle Grant chimed in. “I’d say all of Nevada.”
